Thought For The Week 30 August 2026

Welcome to our service today as we conclude our series reflecting theologically on sport. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. It’s been wonderful hearing inspiring and often amusing stories and connecting with deeper lessons from the scriptures. As we bring this to a close, we will consider a crucial element of sport often overlooked; the role of the spectators.  Those who buy tickets, fill the stands, yell and cheer for their team have a significant role to play in modern sport. They are not just consumers of an entertainment product; they are the reason for the whole show! The crowd come to watch the athletes, and the athletes draw strength and motivation from the crowd. Without spectators any sporting event seems a bit   hollow (remember the Covid effected 2021 Tokyo Olympics?). We can’t all be on the field of play. Age, fitness, lack of skill and talent consign us to be spectators  only. But don’t under-estimate the importance of cheering on your team.

Later today we will commission Steve McCoy as our Wayfinder, a role dedicated to seeking the hand of God at work in our community and connecting the gospel to those who God is preparing to hear and receive it. This won’t be an easy task but like a good athlete, Steve has been preparing for it. But he will need our support. We don’t expect you to be on the field of play with him, but we expect you to cheer him on, to support him, pray for him and celebrate the wins with him and encourage him when the going is tough. He can’t do this work alone and nor should he; we are in this together, each one of us playing our part according to the gifts God has given. A special commissioning service will be held today at 2:30pm at the Enliven centre, Botanic gardens, led by Rev Martin Stewart and Rev Dan Spragg from Alpine Presbytery. I do hope you can make it to cheer Steve on.

Nga mihi nui,

Brent